Mike struck gold later in the day with a discovery of a ‘feral’ goldfish in the ghyll. That makes two discoveries now in this area - Niagara Falls and Moby Dick! As a word of warning: goldfish are a non-native species descended from Asian carp and, if introduced to a delicately balanced ghyll ecosystem, can rend great destruction to the native species as has already happened with koi carp in our pond.
Cross-In-Hand Amenities Society
Custodians of Darch’s Wood for the benefit and enjoyment of the community, and helping preserve and protect the lands and buildings of Cross-in-Hand.
Registered Charity 269818
2 May 2024
Today In The Woods
Mike struck gold later in the day with a discovery of a ‘feral’ goldfish in the ghyll. That makes two discoveries now in this area - Niagara Falls and Moby Dick! As a word of warning: goldfish are a non-native species descended from Asian carp and, if introduced to a delicately balanced ghyll ecosystem, can rend great destruction to the native species as has already happened with koi carp in our pond.
16 Mar 2024
Notice of Annual AGM
Cross-in-Hand Amenities Society
-NOTICE-
51st Annual General Meeting
to be held at the Lucas Memorial Hall, Waldron
on
25th April 2024 at 19:30.
We are please to invite you to join us at the Annual General Meeting of the Cross-in-Hand Amenities Society.
All members are at liberty to nominate themselves or others for any of the positions on the Committee. We would ask anyone wishing to stand to contact our Membership Secretary, Mike Baker, in advance of the meeting.
Following the meeting, members are invited to socialise with a glass of wine or a soft drink, which will be provided free-of-charge.
If you wish to confirm your attendance, or alternatively to offer your apologies, please send an email to mikefbaker@hotmail.com or telephone 01435 866253.
12 Jan 2024
Coverage in the Sussex Express
If you were impressed and inspired about what you read in the Sussex Express article, and you'd like to contribute your time and effort by getting involved, our next working party is Saturday 20th January where we will be continuing with the important clearance work of felling and clearing invasive Cherry laurel and Rhododendron, thus freeing up the woodland to replenish itself naturally with those native species that should normally be found there.
If it is your first time joining us, we work from approximately 10am to 3pm and are currently working at the top of the woods near the St. Bartholomew's Church. Do come down and donate as much (or as little) of your time as you wish; our friendly bunch are always most grateful for any help! We’ll be working in teams of no more than six - bring your own tools (good gloves absolutely essential) but, as usual, we can always loan out loppers, rakes, saws etc. if needed.
If there are any doubts just follow the smoke and ask for Mike!
9 Oct 2023
Darch's Wood Work Parties: Saturday 14th and Saturday 28th October
19 Sept 2023
Darch's Wood Work Parties: Saturday 23rd and 30th September 2023
10 Aug 2023
Recent Sightings
This Spring and Summer we have had some exciting new species turn up in the wood!
- Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) are a species of bird very closely associated with water courses. Absolutely gorgeous and unmistakable in their lemon yellow and grey plumage, they are most often to be seen flicking their tails whilst hunting for insects at a waterfall or weir or relaxing on a lily pad, or else their distinctive, high-pitched "chee-chick" calls can be heard. Darch's Wood is lucky to have become home to a pair which have nested near the pond in recent years.
- Welsh Oak Longhorn Beetle (Pyrrhidium sanguineum) is usually a resident far further west in Britain than Sussex, and even then uncommon, the Welsh Oak Longhorn Beetle appears to be expanding its range significantly eastwards and has recently been sighted in Darch's Wood! This longhorn beetle requires dead wood in which to lay its eggs, and as the larvae hatch they help to recycle nutrients within the wood by breaking down fallen trees. Oak is their tree species of preference, and hence the beetle was recorded where a large oak was felled by strong winds.
- Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) is charismatic, foxy-brown-coloured bee species that can be seen as Winter turns to Spring (hence the name), digging tiny burrows in the bare, drier patches of sandy soil next to the pond. In these burrows they lay an egg, plug the hole with pollen, and then leave the emergent grub to fend for itself! Solitary bees, these lovely ladies are often seen nesting alone, but groups of females do occur, even though these groups are never very big. Don't worry, they cannot sting you!
27 Feb 2023
Volunteers Needed! Darch's Wood Working Party 04/03/2023
The guys from Agrifactors have been busy completing non-native invasive Rhododendron ponticum clearance in section '2d' and have given the main ride (i.e. the eastern side of the wood running down from St Bart's Church) a goodly trim. The brash has been left in situ, but the rhododendron is down and on the ground.
As such, and it will take a number of sessions to clear, we are able to continue our working party activities beyond the normal cessation date of March 31st and into the spring months.
If you can spare an hour or two, we will commence what’s going to be a massive tidy-up this coming Saturday March 4th.
We'd love to see you there: uphill from the pond at around 10:30.
We’ll be working in teams of no more than six: bring your own tools (gloves essential) but, as usual, we can always loan out loppers, rakes, saws etc. if needed.
Just follow the smoke to its source!
22 Feb 2023
Non-Native Invasive Species Clearance
As I am sure you will all have noticed, our amazing community of volunteers have been very busy maintaining and improving Darch’s Wood, ensuring its future as a community asset and keeping it open and accessible to the public for all to enjoy.
Those who attended our AGMs in April 2022 and Sept 2021 will already be aware that we have been working with English Woodlands Forestry to shape a new five-year 'Woodland Plan’ that complies with Forestry Commission standards. The plan was approved last year and we are now taking steps to implement it, drawing on grants through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme and Rural Payments Agency.
The new plan includes both Revenue and Capital items.
Revenue items include such things as: Opening up some of the rides to attract more birds, insects and butterflies, and to allow wild flowers to thrive. Freeing up some of our biggest ‘Veteran Trees’, by clearing the undergrowth around them.
Capital items include: Works to drainage and clearing Cherry Laurel and Rhododendron, which have run rampant in certain areas of the wood! (This work would be undertaken jointly between English Woodlands Forestry, the Amenities Society and a woodland contractor).
During February (commencing from Thursday 23rd) and later in the Autumn, we will be working with a contractor to clear the Cherry Laurel and Rhododendron ponticum from a number of areas in the wood to deliver on commitments in the Forestry Commission approved plan. This work is vital in enabling the removal of highly invasive, non-native species, and will enable us to replace them with native trees and shrubs that will enhance the biodiversity and therefore the future of Darch’s wood.
If you would like to know more, please contact us via email.
CHAS Chair – Steve Thompsett
cihamsoc@gmail.com
4 Oct 2022
It's Funghi Season!
It's funghi season, and after the driest summer in many, many years the recent rains have caused the funghi in Darch's Wood to really start putting on a show (they love wet weather!).
We are by no means experts, or even amateurs, but via both the Collins Funghi Guide and the Woodland Trust's website we think we have managed to tentatively identify one or two of these as:
- Porcelain Fungus (Oudemansiella mucida),
- Yellow Stags-horn (Calocera viscosa),
- Blusher (Amanita rubescens).
15 Apr 2022
MINUTES OF THE 49TH AGM OF THE CROSS IN HAND AMENITIES SOCIETY
MINUTES OF THE 49TH AGM OF
THE CROSS IN HAND AMENITIES SOCIETY
HELD ON 7TH APRIL 2022
AT THE LUCAS HALL, WALDRON
2. Appointment of Chairman: Steve Thompsett was nominated by Lin Plant and seconded by Janet Reader and accepted by all present.
3. Nomination and Appointment of Committee: There being no new nominations, the present committee of Lin Plant (Vice Chairman), Janet Reader (Treasurer), Mike Baker (Membership Secretary), – all Trustees – Jenny Wakefield-Warren (in her absence and with her agreement), Jo Eaton-Brown, Philippa Pigache and Nicky Thompsett were accepted.
4. Approval of the Minutes of the Last AGM: Held in September 2021 (delayed due to Covid) These were accepted by all present.
5. Matters arising: No actions were outstanding.
6. Chairman’s Report: ST reported on all activities that have taken place in the last six months.
We have new green signs at all entrances, reminding visitors that the Wood is owned by the community and managed by a Charity committee.
ST & LP met with representatives of the High Weald AONB, who wanted to see the work carried out under grants given by Sussex Lund, which were secured by our late Chairman, John Plant. They were very impressed with the work completed, and took lots of photos to include in future information.
Following the donation of over £10,000 from the Co-Op. along with smaller amounts from members, work on replacing the boardwalk should start in the near future. Our contractor has the sleepers in preparation and should begin when the weather is suitable.
7. Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer gave her report, which was accepted by the members.
8. Membership Status: MB reported that we currently have 144 members, some of whom are still due to renew their subscription.
9. Darch’s Wood update: ST showed some slides of the work done in the Wood, including some maps. There are links on the Website to the 1947 map from the air.
10. Forestry Commission Woodland Plan: ST gave details of the application for funding for the total removal of rhododendron and laurel in the Wood. This is considered necessary, as the Wood would be overwhelmed if we do nothing. There are two parts to the grant: the first is to do various things yearly, such as widen the rides (paths), squirrel catching and deer management. The largest part of the grant, £40,000, is for the eradication of the non-native species (rhododendron and laurel). Josh Diplock, from the team who will help manage the works, answered various questions from members and a vote was taken, and it was agreed to go ahead with the grant.
11. Jubilee Picnic: LP said that it had been suggested to hold a low-key picnic in the Wood for the Platinum Jubilee on Sunday 5th June, as there were many other events taking place. People should bring their own picnics, no disposable BBQs allowed, any time from 12pm to 5pm. LP will arrange bunting and perhaps a few simple games for children – helpers welcome. It was agreed to go ahead with this picnic.
12. AOB: Two metal detectorists came along and brought a box frame containing some of their finds in the Wood. They were unable to detect anything under the paths, due to metal in the planings. They also found some badly damaged George III coins.
LP mentioned that a glade of Rowan trees had been purchased, using the last monies from the memorial collection for John Plant. These were due to be planted any time now. N.B. – The trees were actually planted the day before the AGM by the Pond.
13. Members questions: A member suggested that we could have a stall at the French Market and/or the Heathfield Show. We would need volunteers to man such stalls.
The meting closed at 8.45 and guests had the opportunity to have refreshments, look at information displayed at the back of the hall and talk to the committee, Josh Diplock and the detectorists.
23 Mar 2022
Bringing Winter 2021/22 to a Close
halt to our clearance operations. The weather is set to be glorious, so, if you can spare an hour or two to help us clear Cherry laurel and Rhododendron, we’d be super-glad to see you this coming
As usual, we’ll be working in teams of no more than six - bring your own tools (gloves essential), although we have loppers, rakes, and saws to loan out if required.
See you there - meet at the pond around 10:30 - follow the smoke.
10 Mar 2022
We're Nearly Finished! (Nearly...)
Although we’ve completed this section, it’s no time to sit on our 'cherry laurels' (sorry) and, with a few Saturdays in hand before we need to stop in time for the start of the bird nesting season, we propose moving our focus slightly south across the path and again working uphill from the pond.
If you can spare an hour or two, come and help us out this coming Saturday 12th March 2022.
We will be working in teams of no more than six - bring your own tools (gloves essential), although we have loppers, rakes, and saws to loan out if required.
See you there - meet at the pond around 10:30 - follow the smoke!
1 Feb 2022
Upcoming Work Party
We will be working in teams of no more than six - bring your own tools (gloves essential), although we have loppers, rakes, and saws to loan out if required.
See you there - meet at around 10:30 - follow the smoke.
24 Jan 2022
Grass Snake!!
At the recent work party (22/01/2022) we were working on removing rhododendron, cherry laurel and sycamore on the far western border of the woods. All-of-a-sudden a cry of 'snake!' went up, and lo! there was a sizeable, angry grass snake doing its very best in pretending to be an adder! Needless to say, we vacated that area and left it to its own devices, hoping that it would slither back into the hole from whence it sprang. We never cease to be surprised by what we find in Darch's Wood.
As ever, thanks to all who attended the work party: we achieved an enormous amount between us! Furthermore, the parcel of land we have been working on for at least four years is now almost restored to its former condition, with only a bit more clearance and some control of regrowth remaining before we move on elsewhere in the wood.
17 Dec 2021
Tree Planting II!
Whilst Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel may look nice in a garden, if permitted to escape into an ecosystem (such as Wealden ghyll woodland, in our case) nature cannot compete against these human-introduced plants which then quickly overwhelm native species, causing great harm to (and eventually destroying!) woodland if left unchecked.
On these borders we wish to replace the 'lost' foliage as quickly as possible, only with a far more appropriate choice of species. Having cleared these areas of non-native invasives, we must continue to consider our neighbours' privacy and limit how much their properties are 'over-looked' from the wood. And because a good screen of woodland-edge species not only allows privacy to be retained, but also eventually becomes stock (and dog) proof, shields the wood from the worst excesses of wind, and keeps the humid air within the wood, it is important that we re-populate the borders as quickly as possible.
To that end, the society is in the middle of planting 200 new saplings (60 are already in the ground at the time of writing!) and this is where the tree guards and stakes come in. In a wonderful display of generosity, The Conservation Volunteers donated two hundred bare-root seedlings, with canes and guards, to the Cross-in-Hand Amenities Society. Within the mix were species such as:
Field maple
Hazel
Hawthorn
Dogwood
Dog rose
Downy birch
Goat willow
Bird cherry
The hawthorn, dog rose and dogwood are ‘woodland-edge’ species, and are perfect for screening along the borders. The remaining species will be planted randomly throughout the recently cleared areas. Thus, the future of Darch's Wood's biodiversity (and therefore resilience in the face of climate change) has therefore taken another very positive step forward.
One last valid question is 'why must we use plastic tree guards when plastic pollution is such a huge environmental issue?'. The brief answer is that we have, at least with current technology, no real choice. Darch’s Wood, and the countryside in general, is suffering from both an overabundance of deer and the effect of non-native grey squirrels, both of which decimate saplings via browsing and bark stripping. If left unchecked almost all of the saplings would be predated to the point where they never reach maturity, and so tree guards must be used and gathered in for re-use or disposal once the saplings mature.
14 Dec 2021
The Next Work Party
29 Nov 2021
Upcoming Work Parties
We’re back in the wood this weekend, continuing our clearance work from the pond up towards Back Lane. Our next batch of 200 native saplings should have arrived by then and, if we get enough folks, we’ll start planting them out on cleared ground.
The forecast is less cold than at the time of writing so, if you can spare an hour or two, we’d love to see you this coming Saturday 4th December.
We will be working in teams of no more than six, so bring your own tools (gloves essential), although we can always loan out loppers, rakes, saws, etc. if needed.
Hope to see you there! We meet at the pond at around 10:30, just follow the smoke.
21 Nov 2021
Co-Op Local Community Fund: A Thousand Thank You's!
7 Nov 2021
Ride Widening and Border Regeneration
The Conservation Volunteers currently have an initiative to plant millions of native trees across the UK. As part of their drive, they have very kindly donated 200 young saplings of various species to The Cross-In-Hand Amenities Society.
Although Darch's Wood will never be short of the various species of birch and willow found within (!), within TCV's delivery there will be a number of shade-intolerant species such as hawthorn, dogwood, blackthorn and so on which are more suited to woodland-edge habitats, as well as the more usual broad-leaf species such as lime, oak, beech, hornbeam etc. which one finds creating the closed-canopy at the woodland heart.
Before... | ...and After! |
At present, the ride running the length of the east side of Darch's Wood is far too dark and narrow for its intended purpose, completely over-run as it is with the cherry laurel and rhododendron doing its level best to invade every corner of the wood. In order to make room for TCV's donation, we have therefore been clearing a long stretch of these invasive species, to be replaced by the species which one would expect to find there.
This work provides innumerable benefits. Not only would this hugely increase the health and resilience of the woodland itself, but will also provide a vital nectar source for insects (not to mention a source of berries for autumn foraging!), will let more light into the wood for the understory to flourish, and will continue to shield the woodland from the worst of the easterly winds, helping to maintain the ideal temperature and humidity within the woodland. AND it will look lovely to the human observer when fully grown! Except for the shielding of the woods from wind, none of this currently occurs with the cherry laurel and rhododendron in place.We were all gladdened to see that the workparty we held on 6th November 2021 was again very well attended, and managed to rejuvenate a considerable length of the eastern border after years of neglect. Heartfelt thanks to all who attended; your time and efforts are fully appreciated. As ever, if you feel you would like to donate an hour or two of your time to our 'Green Gym' workparties and help to make a real difference to Darch's Wood, you are only too welcome.
All we need to do now is plant the saplings once they arrive!
3 Nov 2021
Working Parties
Time for a brew and bacon sarnie! |
Volunteering in Darch's Wood is going from strength to strength. In fact, last week (23rd October 2021) we set a for record attendance! It may have had something to do with the gourmet bacon rolls and tea that were on offer, but either way we're excited! We managed to clear, process and burn an enormous amount of the remaining invasive rhododendron and cherry laurel to the west of the pond and had fun and kept fit whilst at it.
As ever, we continue to learn about the woods as we work. A new species (for us!) is the 'beef stake' bracket fungus (Fistulina hepatica) found on a long-fallen but recently uncovered oak trunk This is a remarkable species of fungus (aren't they all?!) which apparently, if cooked, actually resembles the taste of beef but, somewhat more grotesquely, drips 'blood' if damaged. As with all fungi, if one is not 100% certain of what species you are dealing, it's best to leave be and not attempt to eat it.
This time, there will be a slight change in location. Two-hundred new trees have been donated to us for impending delivery, and these are scheduled for planting out in December. These will be a mix of native species, some of which are best suited to woodland-edge or hedgerow environments, and to accommodate these particular species we’ll be clearing rhododendron from some of the areas on the edge of the woods adjacent to the main drive. It should also subtly open up views to the east from the wood, and make the woodland edge look more natural whilst continuing to shield from wind blast and associated loss of humidity within the wood itself.
26 Aug 2021
48th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
20 Jul 2021
18 Jul 2021
Tree Planting
Those users of our woods who are particularly observant may have noticed that a fair few tree guards and stakes have appeared in areas which the society, with the very generous help of volunteers, have been clearing of non-native invasive species such as Cherry Laurel and Rhododendron. Some may ask what is going on here, and why are we planting trees in a wood?! Both are good questions.
Whilst Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel may look nice in a garden, if permitted to escape into an ecosystem (such as Wealden ghyll woodland, in our case) nature cannot compete against these human-introduced plants which then quickly overwhelm native species, causing great harm to (and eventually destroying!) woodland if left unchecked.
Having cleared these areas of non-native invasives, nature can sometimes do with a helping hand. The act of tree planting isn’t always helpful, affordable or even necessary in many contexts as the process of natural regeneration does a far better job, with better results, and is often more appropriate; i.e. native species are simply allowed to seed and repopulate cleared areas in their own time (as can be seen occuring around our stand of aspen west of the pond). However, in order for this process to be fully effective, the regeneration needs to come from a diverse, healthy ecosystem which is already in tip-top condition, and unfortunately Darch’s Wood is not there yet.
If we were to utilise only the process of natural regeneration, the wood would unfortunately repopulate itself with non-native, species-poor 'Secondary' woodland, with trees such as sycamore, horse chestnut, larch and sweet chestnut predominant. Whilst beautiful, popular and in some cases historically important trees, they also prevent the wood from regenerating to its apex ‘Tertiary’ state, i.e. once again reaching the natural composition of species as should be found in a Wealden ghyll.
This is where the tree guards and stakes come in. In a wonderful display of generosity, The Conservation Volunteers donated one hundred bare-root seedlings to the Cross-in-Hand Amenities Society to help with restoring Darch’s Wood. Within the mix were species such as:
Field maple
Hazel
Aspen
Hawthorn
Dogwood
Downy birch
Goat willow
Aspen
Bird cherry
The hawthorn and dogwood are ‘woodland-edge’ species. These were planted on to replace screening on the woodland edge where some invasives had been removed. We are already most fortunate in having a large stand of aspen within the wood, so the donated aspen was used to spread this species to new areas. The remaining species were planted randomly throughout the cleared areas. Despite the dry spring experienced in 2021, the saplings seem to have done incredibly well, with a survival rate thus far of approximately 95%. The future of Darch's Wood's biodiversity (and therefore resilience in the face of climate change) has therefore taken a very positive step forward.
One last valid question is 'why must we use plastic tree guards when plastic pollution is such a huge environmental issue?'. The brief answer is that we have, at least with current technology, no real choice. Darch’s Wood, and the countryside in general, is suffering from both an overabundance of deer and the effect of non-native grey squirrels, both of which decimate saplings via browsing and bark stripping. If left unchecked almost all of the saplings would be predated to the point where they never reach maturity, and so tree guards must be used and gathered in for re-use or disposal once the saplings mature.